Optician’s appointment led to brain tumour diagnosis

1 min read

A woman whose husband was diagnosed with a brain tumour after an optician’s appointment is sharing his story this National Eye Health Week.

Hannah Colby is working with Brain Tumour Research to help raise awareness of the disease. Her partner Steve Gilmour was diagnosed with a grade 4 gliosarcoma, after an appointment at Specsavers prompted by symptoms including headaches and vomiting.

Steve, father to seven-year-old Rosie, had surgery within a month of the diagnosis, in September 2021, but died in May 2022, just two weeks after the couple got married.

Hannah said: “Our immediate thought was to get married as quickly as possible. We had a beautiful celebration in my parents’ garden, joined by 90 friends and family. It was a lovely day, even though Steve was already deteriorating and in a wheelchair.

“On 29 May 2022, I lost my husband of two weeks. He was just 45 years old.”

Hugh Adams, our Head of Stakeholder Relations, said: “We regularly hear from patients who have been sent by an optician to their hospital eye clinic or even local neuroscience department for rapid diagnostic tests and treatment. Opticians are able to detect a build-up of pressure in the brain which can be an early sign of a brain tumour.

“We were deeply sorry to learn about Steve’s death and thank Hannah for having the courage to share Steve’s story to help raise awareness this National Eye Health Week.”

Please donate to support vital research to find a cure for brain tumours: www.braintumourresearch.org/donation/donate-now

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